dead set

[ded set, ded set]

adjective

1. firmly decided or determined; resolved.

   His family was dead set against the marriage.

noun

1. a serious or determined attempt; firm effort.

   He made a dead set at winning the championship.

2. Hunting.,  the stiff posture assumed by a hunting dog in indicating the presence and location of game.

dead set

adverb

1. absolutely

   he is dead set against going to Spain

noun

1. the motionless position of a dog when pointing with its muzzle towards game

adjective

1. (of a hunting dog) in this position

interjection

1. slang,  an expression of affirmation

   dead set, I worked from dawn to dusk

Word History and Origins

Origin of dead set¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Related Words

• adamant 
• austere 
• definite 
• exact 
• fixed 
• hard-line 
• harsh 
• inflexible 
• intransigent 
• rigorous 
• solid 
• stern 
• stringent 
• uncompromising 
• unyielding